Pork chops smothered in onions and mushrooms in a spicy Cajun cream sauce. These creamy Cajun pork chops are perfect for an easy and comforting weeknight dinner!
We are pretty crazy for pork chops around here, in fact, a good pork chop is probably Meathead's favorite thing for dinner. And if there's any kind of cream sauce involved, it's a surefire hit.
For the past several months, my favorite seasoning to play around with has been Cajun (or Creole) seasoning and smoked paprika. Creamy Cajun Pork Chops has become a new favorite in my house.
I've heard the term "smothered" when referring to a southern cooking technique and I think this is similar. The meat is browned, the vegetables sautéed, the meat goes back in to simmer in the sauce. That's pretty much what I did here, with onions, garlic and cremini mushrooms.
The chops simmer until fully cooked, then the pan sauce is reduced and finished off with sour cream and Cajun spices. This is my kind of comfort food on a cold night ~ served over egg noodles to sop up all the rich, spicy sauce.
I'm thinking of trying this with chicken, but for now I'm sticking with these pork chops. If you have a Meathead in your house, try these Cajun pork chops, you will be showered with praise, they are that good! xxo- Kelly🍴🐦
If you like Cajun seasoning as much as I do, then you might like these dishes, too!
1cupsliced cremini mushrooms, about 4 ouncescan use white button mushrooms instead
3clovesgarlic, finely chopped
1cupchicken stock or broth, preferably homemade
2bay leaves
1cupsour cream
1tablespoonCajun seasoningI used my local grocer's Cajun blend
1teaspoonsmoked paprikacan use regular if that's what you have
cooked egg noodles, for serving
Instructions
Season chops with plenty of black pepper to taste and sprinkle with a little kosher salt. Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chops, about 5 minutes per side. Remove chops to a plate and set aside, leaving fat in skillet.
Add onions and mushrooms to skillet and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and a pinch of salt and cook until just fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add the chicken stock and deglaze the pan, stirring up any browned bits. Season with another sprinkle of salt. Turn down the heat to a simmer, add the bay leaves and nestle the chops back in the sauce. Cover and simmer on low for about 30 - 35 minutes until the chops are cooked through.
Remove cooked chops to plate and cover loosely with foil. Increase heat to high and bring pan juices to a boil and reduce by about half. Skim as much fat from the surface as you can (I probably skimmed off 2 to 3 tablespoons).
Remove bay leaves and turn heat down to low. Whisk in sour cream, Cajun seasoning and smoked paprika until smooth and creamy and heat for 3 minutes, be careful not to boil. Taste and adjust for salt and pepper. Add chops back to pan and coat in sauce and heat another minute or two. Serve over hot buttered egg noodles with plenty of sauce and chopped fresh parsley.
Recipe Notes
I use a Cajun spice blend that has NO SALT. Keep that in mind when seasoning, I salt as I go but if your Cajun spice blend has salt, be careful so you don't over salt.
Pork chops tend to dry out and burn when you cook them on the stove-top alone, but by frying one side first and getting it good and brown, then turning it over and putting it in the oven to finish cooking, you get the best of both worlds.
Mild tenderizing is accomplished through the use of acidic ingredients. Lemon juice, flavored vinegar, red wine, and coffee are all recommended as marinade ingredients that can soften the meat a little.
While there are a number of ways to cook pork chops for dinner, baking is arguably the easiest path to perfection. The hands-off cooking method cooks pork chops gently and evenly without the need for extra fat, resulting in juicy, healthier pork chops that pair well with practically any side dish.
Thyme and sage add herby and floral notes complementing pork's flavor exceptionally well. There's also a combination of smoked paprika, pepper, and a little bit of cayenne pepper, which all give your pork chops a lovely, not overly spicy, kiss of heat.
Use a relatively low temperature to cook the baked pork chops slowly. 350 degrees F takes about 15 minutes longer to cook the chops to the right internal temperature than 400 degrees, but it results in a juicier and more flavorful meal.
High-heat frying sears them to a golden brown; and a moderately hot oven (400 degrees F) bakes the pork chops gently enough to keep them from drying out. This "sear-roasting" method is a great way to cook pork chops in the oven: Fry one side to golden brown, then flip, and place the chops directly in the oven.
How do you make pork soft and tender? Soak your pork in a salt-based brine before cooking it using your desired method. Pork chops need to soak between 12–24 hours, an entire pork tenderloin needs to soak for 6–12 hours, and an entire pork loin requires 2–4 days of soaking.
It helps prevent moisture loss during cooking, and the salt also helps tenderize the meat from the inside out. If you want an extra juicy piece of pork, brine it before cooking. You can make an effective brine just with salt and water, but additional seasonings do help.
How do you tenderise pork for stir fry? Velveting is a Chinese technique that helps keep meat tender during stir frying. Adding cornstarch and bicarb to your meat during the marinating process helps to coat your meat, giving it a velvety feel that makes the meat feel extra soft.
If you're not from the south, it may not have occurred to you that you can cook with Coca-Cola. But the king of sodas has been used in southern cooking for years — particularly in marinades and sauces for beef and pork. Its sweet acidity can help to tenderize meat, making it an ideal addition for a long slow brine.
Whereas an oversaturated saltwater brine might make your cut less filet-like, a baking soda wet brine expedites the tenderizing process and limits the potential for oversaturation.
Unlike butter, many cooking oils have higher smoke points, allowing you to achieve a hotter cooking temperature without the risk of burning. This is particularly advantageous when seeking a perfect sear on your pork chops.
Bake pork chops that are about 1¼-inch thick at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 14 to 17 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer registers 145 degrees Fahrenheit. If you're concerned about the bake time varying because the chops are boneless or bone-in, stop worrying.
If you're not confident in your cooking skills, there is one foolproof way to guarantee your pork ends up on the tender side, even if you cook it too long: Soak it in a brine or a marinade. According to Hazel, these kinds of preparations always produce the most tender outcomes.
Easy and simple: Let the pork chops rest for at least 10 minutes, covered, before slicing them up. The juices will redistribute back into the meat to keep them flavorful, tender and juicy.
Because pork chops are such a lean cut, they are relatively quick-cooking and prone to overcooking. When they're cooked for even a few minutes too long, whether it's in the oven or on the stovetop or grill, they're quick to dry out, and — you guessed it — become tough, chewy, and less than appealing.
Alternatively, a baking soda mixture generally takes between 15 and 20 minutes to tenderize the cuts of meat. It also carries less risk of harming the meat should the cuts sit in a baking soda for longer. As a result, a baking soda wet brine can be more forgiving and foolproof than a traditional saltwater brine.
Introduction: My name is Wyatt Volkman LLD, I am a handsome, rich, comfortable, lively, zealous, graceful, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
